Sugar & Snap Peas

  • Home
  • All Recipes
    • Easy Breakfast Recipes
    • Easy Lunch Recipes
    • Easy Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert
    • Easy Side Dish Recipes
    • Salad Dressing
  • About me
  • Contact me
  • Gluten Free
  • Vegetarian
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Easy Summer Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • About me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Easy Summer Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • About me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipe Index » All Recipes

    Healthy Turkey Burger Recipe

    Published: Apr 7, 2021 · Modified: Aug 6, 2023 by Katie · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a comment.

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 1 review

    Skip the ground beef burgers and try out a Healthy Turkey Burger Recipe instead! These turkey burgers are filled with simple ingredients and made in under 30 minutes.

    Three healthy turkey burgers on parchment paper, open face with arugula, red onion, sliced tomatoes, brioche buns and mustard.

    An easy turkey burger recipe is a staple on our monthly dinner menu. I often skip the grill, and instead start my burgers in a cast iron skillet on the stove. Once they have a good sear on the outside, they're transferred to the oven to finish cooking.

    These turkey burgers are healthier because they do not contain eggs, breadcrumbs, or cheese.

    If you don't want to make healthy turkey burgers from scratch, you need to try my recipe for Turkey Smash Burgers and Air Fryer Frozen Turkey Burgers.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients needed
    • Equipment needed
    • How to make Healthy Turkey Burgers
    • Variations and substitutions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storage instructions
    • Expert tips
    • Healthy Turkey Burger Recipe
    • Follow me!
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients needed

    Ingredients needed to make healthy turkey burgers.
    Ingredients needed.
    • Ground turkey - I always purchase lean ground turkey that is about 85-93% lean. Not fat-free or 98-99% fat-free lean ground turkey. Fat adds flavor and moisture to ground turkey.
    • Fresh spinach - Spinach sneaks some veggies into this recipe, which increases the health factor!
    • Fresh parsley - Parsley adds delicious herby flavor.
    • Dijon mustard - Choose a Dijon with a smooth and creamy texture, slightly spicy, and slightly tangy.
    • Worcestershire sauce - Worcestershire adds a slight umami flavor when it is added to recipes.
    • Onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper - This combination makes an excellent turkey burger seasoning.
    • Olive oil - A little olive oil is used to oil the skillet.

    *See the recipe card below for a detailed list of ingredients with quantities.

    Equipment needed

    • Large mixing bowl
    • Cutting board & chopping knife
    • Measuring cups & measuring spoons
    • Large skillet or frying pan - A large cast iron skillet or non-stick frying pan will work best!
    • Rimmed baking sheet - Nordic Ware baking sheets are my favorite!
    • Oven

    How to make Healthy Turkey Burgers

    Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F.

    Step 2: Add all of your ingredients, except for the olive oil, to a large mixing bowl. Using your hands, mix the ingredients together until they are fully combined.

    All burger ingredients in a round white mixing bowl.

    Step 3: Form your turkey burger patties into four, equal portions. Flatten them until they are about the size of your palm and about ½ inch thick. Make a small indentation in the center of each patty. This will help the patties keep their size and shape while they are cooking.

    I place them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. After I transfer them to the frying pan, the parchment gets thrown away.

    Raw burger patties on a parchment lined baking sheet.
    Raw patties on baking sheet.

    Step 4: Transfer the turkey patties to a large, hot, oiled skillet. I prefer a cast iron skillet, but a nonstick frying pan would also work. Sear each side of the turkey burger for about 4 minutes per side, over medium heat.

    Seared turkey burgers in a hot cast iron skillet.

    Step 5: The turkey burgers will finish cooking in the oven. You can transfer your cast iron skillet into the oven or place the burgers onto a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Cook the burgers for 10-15 minutes, or until they have reached an internal temperature of at least 165°F.

    Start checking your burgers at 10 minutes. You don't want to overcook your burgers. You want a nice, juicy turkey burger!

    Cooked turkey burgers on a sheet pan.

    Step 6: Remove your burgers from the oven, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy one of the best turkey burgers you've ever made!

    Variations and substitutions

    • Add some cheese! I would add crumbly feta cheese to the ground meat mix mixture. You could also top your burger with a melted slice of sharp cheddar cheese or American cheese.
    • Make it spicy! You can add heat to your burger with chili powder, red pepper flakes, or hot sauce.
    • Make it Mediterranean style! Mediterranean or Greek turkey burgers are incredibly common and are usually topped with feta cheese, roasted red peppers, tzatziki sauce, and Greek olives.

    Serving suggestions

    • Serve your turkey burger patty on a sesame hamburger bun, brioche burger bun, lettuce wraps, or over salad greens.
    • Top your burgers with sliced red onion, fresh tomato slices, pickles, and greens like arugula, spinach, or romaine lettuce.
    • Top your burger with ketchup, mayonnaise, yellow mustard, Dijon mustard, BBQ sauce, or ranch dressing.
    • Serve these easy homemade turkey burgers with Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Tortellini Salad, green salad, potato chips, or steak fries!

    Storage instructions

    How to store: Turkey burgers can be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    How to reheat: Reheat the burger patties in the microwave for about 1 minute, on a microwave-safe plate. Add your toppings and your burger bun after they're reheated.

    Expert tips

    • Prepare all of your burger toppings before you start cooking your burgers.
    • Have your oven preheated so that you can transfer your skillet straight from the stovetop to the hot oven.
    • Don't use a panini press or press your burgers down with the back of your spatula while they are cooking. You want to keep those juices INSIDE of your burger!
    • When you're searing the outside of your turkey burgers in hot oil, a splatter screen will prevent oil from popping up out of the pan.
    Print

    Healthy Turkey Burger Recipe

    Three healthy turkey burgers on parchment paper, open face with arugula, red onion, sliced tomatoes, brioche buns and mustard.
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 1 review

    Skip the ground beef burgers and try out a Healthy Turkey Burger Recipe instead! These turkey burgers are filled with simple ingredients and they're made in under 30 minutes. Even if your weeknights are busy, you can still get a healthy dinner on the table. 

    • Author: Katie
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Total Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings 1x
    • Category: lunch, dinner
    • Method: pan-frying & baking
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Gluten Free

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 pound ground turkey
    • 1 cup chopped fresh spinach
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
    • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil

    Instructions

    1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
    2. Add all turkey burger ingredients, except for the olive oil, to a large mixing bowl.  Using your hands, mix the ingredients together until they are fully combined. 
    3. Divide the turkey burger mixture into 4, evenly sized patties.  The patties should be about the size of your palm and about ½ inch thick.  Using your thumb, make a small indentation in the center of each patty.  This will help the patties keep their shape while they are cooking.
    4. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet.  A cast iron skillet or a non-stick frying pan will work best. 
    5. Transfer the patties to the hot, oiled skillet.  Brown each side of the burgers for about 4 minutes per side, until they have a nice brown crust on the outside. 
    6. Transfer the browned burger patties to a small, rimmed baking sheet.  Place the baking sheet into the oven and cook the turkey burgers for 10-15 minutes, or until they have reached an internal temperature of at least 165°F.
    7.  Remove the burgers from the oven, top them with your favorite burger toppings and enjoy!  

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag @sugar_and_snap_peas on Instagram. I can't wait to see what you've made!

    Follow me!

    Follow me on Facebook, on Instagram and on Pinterest!

    Check out my highlights on Instagram for weekly family dinner ideas!

    Did you make this recipe? Tell me all about it in the comments below! I love hearing from my followers and answering any of your questions!

    More recipes

    • Grilled boneless chicken thighs on a plate.
      Grilled Chicken Thighs (Foolproof Every Time!)
    • Chicken thighs served over carrots and potatoes.
      Baked Chicken, Potatoes, and Carrots (One Pan Recipe!)
    • Peppers, onions, shaved ribeye steak, and white rice in a bowl, garnished with green onions.
      Philly Cheesesteak Bowls with Rice (No Cheez Whiz!)
    • Broccoli and bacon quiche on a cutting board.
      Simple Broccoli Bacon Quiche (with Frozen Pie Crust)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Katie in front of a tree

    I'm Katie, the food blogger, recipe developer, and photographer behind Sugar & Snap Peas. I mostly share high-protein dinner recipes for busy families. These easy dinner ideas take the guesswork out of mealtime so that you can get back to family time, knowing dinner is taken care of!

    More about me →

    Summer Recipes

    • Turkey Smash Burger on a bun with lettuce, tomato, onion, and cheese, surrounded by potato chips.
      Turkey Smash Burgers (15-Minute Recipe)

    • Dutch Oven Pulled Pork recipe topped with coleslaw and BBQ sauce, on a bun.
      Dutch Oven Pulled Pork Recipe

    • Creamy American coleslaw in a white bowl, on top of a blue checkered napkin.
      Creamy American Coleslaw

    • Mediterranean cucumber tomato salad in a white serving bowl, on top of a yellow napkin with a lemon and fresh herbs in the background.
      Mediterranean Tomato and Cucumber Salad

    Reader Favorites

    • Pork meatballs served over pasta on a white plate.
      Ground Pork Meatballs (Slow Cooker)

    • Dutch Oven Pulled Pork recipe topped with coleslaw and BBQ sauce, on a bun.
      Dutch Oven Pulled Pork Recipe

    • Balsamic chicken thighs cooked, in a round, red baking dish.
      Balsamic Chicken Thighs (Boneless)

    • Sliced chicken thighs on a plate with a fork and knife.
      Blackened Chicken Thighs (Boneless)

    • Assembled teriyaki beef bowl in a white bowl with a fork, spoon, and napkin in the background.
      Teriyaki Ground Beef Bowls (20 Minute Recipe!)

    • Chicken, broccoli, potato casserole in a round dish, baked, with cheese and toasted breadcrumbs.
      Chicken Broccoli Potato Casserole (Made from Scratch!)

    • Dijon chicken thigh in a cast iron skillet, garnished with fresh parsley.
      Easy Dijon Chicken Thighs

    • Ground pork spaghetti sauce tossed with cooked pasta, served in a brown colored serving bowl with grated parmesan cheese, fresh parsley and a cloth napkin the background.
      Ground Pork Spaghetti Sauce

    Trending Posts

    • Pan-fried pork cutlets on a plate.
      Pan-Fried Pork Cutlets

    • Boil chicken thighs on a plate garnished with fresh thyme.
      How to Boil Chicken Thighs (Fresh or Frozen)

    • Salmon pasta without cream in a large blue bowl.
      Salmon Pasta without Cream

    • Two baked potatoes, cut open with butter and chives, on parchment paper with a fork and knife.
      Perfect Baked Potato (without foil)

    • Sliced chicken thighs on a plate with a fork and knife.
      Blackened Chicken Thighs (Boneless)

    • Fajita-seasoned sheet pan chicken with peppers and onions on a round plate. The chicken is sliced.
      Chicken with Peppers and Onions (Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of use
    • DMCA
    • CCPA

    Newsletter

    • Newsletter signup coming soon!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About me

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Sugar & Snap Peas